Maternal Migration and Child Well-Being in Peru

Escobal, Javier and Flores, Eva (2009): Maternal Migration and Child Well-Being in Peru. Published in: Young Lives Working Paper Series No. 56 (October 2009)

Abstract

Migration affects not only those who migrate, but may also have intergenerational effects on their children. Looking at those mothers with a history of internal migration who are part of the Young Lives project, and comparing them with suitable controls, we find that mothers’ migration has had a positive impact on the nutritional outcomes and cognitive achievement of their offspring. However, we also find that there are heterogeneous impacts, as different types of migration trajectory (rural to rural; rural to urban – to intermediate cities or to the capital, Lima) can be associated with the prevalence of different channels affecting child well-being. Those channels are the income channel, as migration may lead to new income-generating opportunities; the information channel, as migration may allow the mother to access more information about child-care and health-related practices; and the access to services channel, as migration may facilitate or hinder access to key public services.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Migration, Child Welfare, Peru
• Subjects: J - Labor and Demographic Economics > J1 - Demographic Economics > J13 - Fertility ; Family Planning ; Child Care ; Children ; Youth; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O1 - Economic Development > O12 - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O1 - Economic Development > O15 - Human Resources ; Human Development ; Income Distribution ; Migration

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